Pin Cherry vs Black Hawthorn - TreeTime.ca

Pin Cherry vs Black Hawthorn

Prunus pensylvanica

Crataegus douglasii

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Pin Cherry
Black Hawthorn

Pin Cherry is a small tree that produces clusters of white blossoms in spring followed by bright red berries that ripen through the summer. The attractive red color of the leaves in the fall is an added bonus.

The fruit is quite sour when eaten fresh but is excellent when cooked into jam or jelly. Birds love the berries and will be attracted to your property.

Black Hawthorn is a versatile plant that is native to wetlands and other areas with moist soils, but can also tolerate dry soils. This plant can be grown as a short shrub, or a tree reaching 30 feet tall.

Black Hawthorn is valued for erosion control and attracting pollinators. It also makes an attractive flowering ornamental that can be planted as a specimen or pruned as a hedge. It is commonly used in shelterbelts.

Pin Cherry Quick Facts

Black Hawthorn Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: contains thorns
Fall colour: very bright orangish-red
Fall colour: yellow to red
Bark: reddish brown bark has an attractive appearance in the winter
Bark: brown to gray
Flowers: white
Flowers: white
Fruit: clusters of edible, red cherries often used for jams and jellies
Berries: clusters of edible, red cherries often used for jams and jellies
Berries: purplish-black pomes
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, NT, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, ON
Other Names: bird cherry, fire cherry, pincherry, red cherry, wild red cherry
Other Names: crataegus columbiana, douglas hawthorn, douglas' thornapple